Typographical composing machine



May 4, 1937. H. A. BURT TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l J3!- INVENTOR BY 0 .7/ W-7 W 3 ATTOR/YEYJ H. A. BURT TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE May 4, 1937.

Filed Dec. 50, 1935 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W? BY y 1937- H. A. BURT I 2,079,200

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y6 May 4, 1937.

H. A. BURT TYPOGRAPHICAL COM'POSING MACHINE lllllllllll 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 alum! INVENTOK A TTORNEYJ Patented May 4, I937 UNITED ST ATENT OFFIQ Harold A. Burt, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application December 30, 1935, Serial No. 56,681

19 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532 to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to that class of machines equipped with a series of superposed main magazines and a series of superposed auxiliary magazines arranged side by side, each series being movable independently of the other so as to bring one or another of its magazines into operative relation with the assembling and distributing devices, whereby any magazine of one series may be used conjointly with any magazine of the other series.

Each series of magazines is arranged in a movable shift frame which in turn is supported in a relatively fixed supporting frame pivoted in the main frame of the machine, the arrangement of the supportingframes being suchthat they may be rocked upwardly to permit magazines selected for removal to clear the assembler devices.

According to the present improvements, two distinct mechanisms, arranged partly in the respective supporting frames and partly in the main frame of the machine, are employed for moving the shift frames to bring selected magazines of the two series into operative position,

such mechanisms being operatedby a device common to both the main and the auxiliary series of magazines and located within easy reach of the operator while seated at the keyboard. Provision is made for selectively connecting the common operating device to the shifting mechanism for one or the: other series of magazines at the will of the operator.

In the embodiment disclosed, the intermediate connections between that portion of the magazine shifting mechanism mounted in the main frame of the machine and that carried by the supporting frame are, in the instance of one series'of magazines, maintained fixed when the supporting frame is pivoted to effect the removal of a magazine, whereas in the instance of the other series of magazines, the corresponding connections are broken during a similar operation, means being provided in the latter instance for maintaining the proper relation of the parts when the breaking'of the connections occurs.

The raising and lowering of the shift frames is effected under the control of two sets of cams 5 mounted in the respective supporting frames. When the cams of either set are moved in one direction, they act positively to raise their associated shift frame, whereas when they are moved in the opposite direction, they permit the lowering of the shift frame. The lowering of the shift frames is not a positive operation, however, since it is brought about solely by the weight of the shift frames and the magazines supported thereby, the cams acting merely to control the 15 movement. In the event some obstruction is presented to the downward movement of the shift frames, the cams would ride away from the cam followers, thus depriving the shift frames of their support and, because of the excessive weight of the parts, damage to the machine might result. As a precautionary measure, in the event of an occurrence of this character, means. are provided in the form of a pivotally mounted banking dog located on each supporting frame and which, in its normal position, is located in the path of a pair of banking members with which each shift frame is provided. The banking members present banking surfaces, one located just above the dog when the lowermost magazine is in operative position, and the other located just above the dog when the middle magazine is in operative position, the arrangement being such that, should the cams draw away from their cam followers on the shift frame, the banking members will cooperate with the pivoted dog togive the shift frame the necessary support and thereby prevent injury to the parts. The pivoted banking dog does not act when the topmost magazine is in operative position, since in such circumstances, the shift frame banks directly on the supporting frame andconsequently no harm could result if the cams did draw away from their followers, if indeed they could.

A lever, manually operated and common to 45 both series of magazines, allows the withdrawal of the banking dog from the path of the banking members when it is desired to shift the magazines. In addition, this lever operatesthe usual feeler plates associated with the assembler entrance and the distributing mechanism. Such lever also operates devices for insuring that the escapement levers are in their retracted posi tions out of the path of movement of the magazines, as well as a locking device which normally ,55

locks the magazine shifting mechanisms against operation, such locking device being releasable only when the feeler devices above alluded to indicate that there are no obstructions existing that would prevent the shifting of the magazines.

Although the improvements have been illustrated in connection with a machine having three main and three auxiliary magazines, it is apparent that they could be used with equal facility in machines employing a greater or a lesser number.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the assembler and escapement devices removed however, more clearly to show the mechanism for operating the shift frames;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of that portion of the shift frame operating mechanism located in the main frame of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism for locking the shift frame operating mechanism against operation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the escapement mechanism, illustrating the common control for insuring that the escapement levers are fully retracted and for operating the feeler mechanism at the assembler entrance;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing the construction of the banking dog that cooperates in supporting a shift frame in the event the support of the cams is withdrawn;

Fig. '7 is a detail view, showing the mechanism for locking the parts of the magazine shifting mechanism located on the main frame and on the supporting frame in their proper relative positions when the supporting frame for the auxiliary series of magazines is pivoted to effect the removal of a magazine, the parts being shown in their normal inactive positions, that is, when the supporting frame is in its normal position resting on the main frame of the machine; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the parts in their active locking positions, i. e., when the supporting frame is rocked upwardly to effect the removal of a magazine.

The matrices are stored according to font or otherwise in a series of main magazines A at the left and in a series of auxiliary magazines A at the right, three magazines being shown in each series but of which a greater or lesser number might be employed if desired. The several magazines A are removably mounted upon separate base frames B, and the magazines A on similar base frames B as by means of lips or shoulders B rising from the forward or lower ends of the base frames and engaging in front of cross ribs or plates A attached to the undersides of the magazines. The base frames B and B of the difierent series are screwed or otherwise secured at their lateral edges respectively to a pair of side plates C and C which, together with the associated base frames, constitute rigid shift frames which may be raised or lowered to bring the selected magazines into active position.

The shift frames are in turn mounted in relatively fixed supporting frames D pivoted at their upper ends (see Fig. 1) as at D to the machine frame and banking at their lower ends upon fixed rests (not shown) formed in said machine frame.

It may be stated here that the magazines of the main series, as well as those of the auxiliary series, are of the short variety and, for this reason, there are employed channeled conductors E, which serve to connect the active magazines thereof with the customary magazine entrance members (not shown) leading from the usual distributor mechanism. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the channeled conductors are mounted directly on the supporting frames D.

The'magazines are provided each with a fixed bank of escapements F adapted to be actuated in the usual way from the main keyboard, but as these parts are well known and form no part of the present invention, with certain exceptions, particularly with regard to the escapement operating levers (reference to which will later be made), further description thereof would be superfluous here. If desired, reference may be had to the Kennedy Patent No. 1,561,244 for fuller information with respect to the keyboard connections.

An assembler entrance G, common to both the main and the auxiliary series of magazines, is arranged to receive the matrices as they are released from the magazines and carry them to the composing or assembling mechanisms.

In selecting one or another of the magazines of the different series for use, the shift frames of both series are raised and lowered within their respective supporting frames to bring the selected magazines into registration with the assembler entrance G at the front and the channeled conductors E at the back. Further reference to the mechanism for raising and lowering the shift frames will be made hereinafter.

When it is desired to remove or replace a magazine, the entire supporting frame D in which it is mounted is rocked about its pivot D to raise the magazines into a position wherein the one selected for removal will clear the assembler entrance G, and this applies both to the supporting frame of the main series of magazines, as well as that of the auxiliary series.

The mechanisms for raising the supporting frames D of both series of magazines are alike and therefore it is thought that a description of one only will suffice. In Fig. 1 is depicted the mechanism for raising the supporting frame associated with the series of main magazines. This mechanism includes a toggle device consisting of a pair of pivotally connected members H and H the member H being rotatably connected to a cross shaft K extending horizontally beneath the magazines and journalled at its opposite ends in the supporting frame D, and the member H fastened to a rock shaft H journalled in the main frame of the machine, the arrangement being such that, as the rock shaft H is turned to straighten out the toggle members, the supporting frame will be raised to its uppermost position wherein the removal of the magazines can be effected. The rock shaft H is operated by a crank handle I-I arranged at the side of the machine through two arms H and H and an intermediate link H the arm H being fixed to the crank handle H and the arm H to the rock shaft 1-1 the intermediate link H being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said arms. If desired, the pivotally mounted supporting frame may be counterbalanced by a tension spring E (Fig. 1) anchored at one end to the machine frame on a bracket carried thereby and connected at its opposite end to the rear arm of a lever I-I pivotally mounted adjacent tween the side plates C and-C of the respective shift frames and fixedly mounted on shafts K and K extending horizontally beneath the magazines and journalled at their opposite ends in the respective. supportingframes. As the cams are rotated, they cooperate withcorresponding pairs of rollers K and K mounted, one pair K on a tie red C extending between the side plates C of the shift frame associated with the series of main magazines and located beneath the magazines in said frame, and the other pair K on a tie rod C similarly located and arranged in the shift frame of the auxiliary series of magazines whereby the shift frames may be raised or lowered to bring a selected magazine of either series into operative position, the shift frames during the adjustment just mentioned being guided in their respectivesupporting frames by the usual means not shown.

The cams K and K are rotated to effect the raising and lowering of the shift frames from a single operating crank handle L mounted in a fixed part of the machine and located within easy access tothe operator while seated at the keyboard, means being provided for selectively connecting the crank handle with the raising and lowering mechanisms of the main or auxiliary series of magazines as desired.

The connections for rotating'the shaft K associated with the main series of magazines A include a bevelled gear M mounted on the shaft K and meshing with a corresponding bevelled gear lVlZ fixed at the upper end of a short shaft lvl rotatably mounted in a bearing fixed to the supporting frame. The shaft M is, through connections M presently to be described, connected with a short vertical' shaft M rotatably mounted in a bearing carried in a bracket 0 secured to the main frame of the machine, said shaft M carrying atits lowerend a bevelled gear M which meshes with a corresponding bev' elled gear M fixed at-the left end of a short horizontal shaft M extending transversely of the machine and journalled in a bearing likewise carried by the bracket 0 just alluded to. The horizontal cross shaft M is in turn connected with a horizontal fore-and-aft shaft M journalled adjacent its rear end in a bearing 0 carried by a bracket fixed toitheubracket O, and. at its front end in a bracket 0 fixed to the machine frame near the front and in which the operating handle L, previously referred to, is likewise mounted. The two shafts M" and M are connected by a pair of bevelled gears M and M, the former fixed at the right end of the cross shaft M and the latter at the rear end of the shaftM The shaft M is arranged for selective connection with the.- operating handle L through a gear shift arrangement presently tobe described, butit suffices may at the moment' that when the shaftM is operatively con nected with the crank handle L, the turning of the latter in a clockwise direction will effect rotation of the cams K in a direction to raise the shift frame, whereas the turning of the handle in'the opposite direction will effect the rotation of the cams to lower the shift frame.

It will now be recalled that when it is desired to remove a selected magazine from the shift frame for the replacement thereof with a different'magazine, the supporting frame D is rocked upwardly about its pivot away from the main frame of the machine in order to position the magazine selected for removal clear of the assembler entrance G. Inthe case of the main series of magazines A, the connections for raising and lowering the shift frame are maintained throughoutthe movement of the supporting frame, and for this reason the intermediate connections M between the upper shaft M mounted in the supporting frame and the lower shaft M mounted in the bracket 0, comprise a pair of universal'joints m and m and an intermediate telescoping bar m and sleeve m splined together (see Fig. 1), the arrangement being such that as the supporting frame is raised, the sleeve m will merely slide with respect to the bar m without however breaking the driving connection therebetween.

Due to the fact that the shift frame, together with the magazines carried thereby, have considerable weight, certain mechanical advantages are obtained by relating the cooperating gear wheels in the connections between the cam shaft K and the operating handle L in such wise that several turns of the handle are re quired for each turn of the cam shaft, thus reducing to a material extent the effort required on the part of the operator to effect the raising of the shift frame. In lowering the shift frame, the weight thereof itself would tend to turn the handle L were it not for the fact that a braking device M (Fig. 3) is employed which tends to arrest the descent of the shift frame and which may be adjusted so that substantially the same turning effort is required on the handle in lowering the shift frame as in raising it. A satisfactory braking device for this purpose is disclosed in the Kennedy Patent No. 1,528,434, reference to which may be had for a detailed description of the parts.

The shift frame for the auxiliary series of magazines is likewise adaptedto be raised and lowered by the handle L when the latter is connected thereto by the gear shift mechanism: P, previously alluded to. In this case, the connections between the cam shaft K and the handle L include (Fig. 2) a pair of intermeshing gears N and N the former fixed to the cam shaft K at the left end thereof and the latter fixed to a short transverse stub shaft N rotatably mounted in a bearing carried by a bracket 0 fixed to the main frame. The stub shaft N is in turn connected with a second transverse stub shaft N likewise journalled in a bearing formed in the bracket 0 just alluded to (see Fig. 2) through two sets of bevelled gears N N and N N and. a long vertical shaft N journalled at opposite ends in bearings also carried by the bracket 0 The stub shaft N is in turn connected with a fore-and-aft shaftN (similar to the shaft M journalled at its rear end in a bearing supported by the bracket 0 and at its front end in the bracket 0 fixed on the main frame of the machine and which, previously stated, supports the handle L. A pair'of intermeshing bevelled gears N and N (Fig. 3) is likewise provided between the stub shaft N and the fore-and-aft shaft N the arrangement being such that the rotation of the fore-and-aft shaft N will, through the connections just described, eifect the rotation of the cam shaft K to raise and lower the magazine shift frame in bringing the different magazines into operative position. The gear ratio between the handle L and the cam shaft K is the same as that existing between said handle and the cam shaft K associated with the series of main magazines. Furthermore, the fore-and-aft shaft N is provided with a braking mechanism similar in all respects to the braking device M associated with the other fore-and-aft shaft M through which the series of main magazines is raised and lowered.

The operating connections for the .auxiliary series of magazines, between the cam shaft K carried by the supporting frame and the handle L carried by the main frame are not, as in the case of the series of main magazines, maintained throughout the rocking of the supporting frame to locate a selected magazine in a position wherein it can be removed from the machine. When the supporting frame is raised in the manner previously described, the meshing engagement is broken between the gear N on the cam shaft K and the gear N on the stub shaft N As there is a definite fixed relation between the position of the cam shaft K and the position of.

the handle L, devices are provided for locking the gears N and N against turning when they are demeshed during the raising of the supporting frame so that, when the latter is lowered and the gears again brought into mesh, the parts will bear the same relation with respect to each other as they did before.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, these locking devices include a pair of pins 72. and n mounted one in the cam shaft bearing and the other in the stub shaft bearing. These pins are springpressed toward the gears N and N which are drilled with holes toreceive them, each gear being provided with three such holes located so that one in each gear will register with the pins for each position of the cam shaft wherein a magazine will be located in operative position.

In the normal position of the parts (see Fig. 7) the pins n and n are held in a retracted position out of locking engagement with the gears by a pair of bell crank levers n and n pivotallymounted one on each of the bearings that support the cam and the stub shafts, respectively. The bell crank levers n and n have arms extending in opposite directions and these arms are formed with bifurcated portions n straddling pins n projecting laterally from each of the springpressed pins n and 12 The other arms of the bell crank levers react one against the other when the gears N and N are in mesh, and thus locate the levers in positions wherein the pins n and n are withdrawn from engagement with the gears so as to permit the rotation of the latter in effecting the raising and lowering of the shift frame.

However, when the supporting frame is raised to permit the removal of a magazine, the gears N and N will be moved out of mesh and simultaneously therewith the contact between the bell crank levers n and n will be broken, thus releasing the pins 12 and n and allowing them, under the action of their respective springs, to be pushed into the holes in the gears which happen to be in register therewith, thus locking the gears against relative rotation with respect to each other and insuring that when they are reengaged, the parts will have the same relative positions as before. When the supporting frame is again lowered into its normal position and the remeshing of the gears N and N effected, the bell crank levers again will cooperate one with the other to effect the withdrawal of the pins from the gears, thus leaving the latter free to cooperate in the raising and lowering of the magazines.

As stated before, the shift frames of the main and auxiliary series of magazines are raised and lowered by the operation of the handle L which is arranged to be selectively connected to one or the other of the shafts M and N in the operating connections through the gear shift mechanism P. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the crank handle L is fixed at the outer end of a short shaft P journalled in the bracket located at the front of the machine. The shaft P at its rear end is provided with a gear P arranged to turn with the shaft and meshing with a pair of gears P and P formed on sleeves P and P mounted one on each of the shafts M and N. The sleeves are formed each with a keyway p on the inner face thereof and are arranged for limited adjustment along the shafts, whereby they are locatable in one position wherein the keyways will engage with corresponding keys :0 formed on the shafts and thus drive the shafts upon rotation of the sleeves, or locatable in another position wherein the keyways will be out of engagement with said keys, in which case the sleeves upon rotation will merely idle on the shafts without affecting the rotation thereof.

The adjustment of the sleeves P and P along the shafts M and N is effected through a gear shift lever P pivotally mounted on the fixed bracket 0 at a point midway between the shafts and equipped with a pair of pins 11 spaced equally on opposite sides of the pivot point and which project into annular grooves 12 formed in the sleeves. When the lever P is in one position, it will effect the engagement of one sleeve with its associated shaft and the disengagement of the other sleeve from its associated shaft; where as, when the lever is in its other position of adjustment, the reverse will be the case, i. e., the first sleeve will be disengaged from its associated shaft and the second sleeve in a position of engagement. Since the gear P associated with the crank handle shaft P is always in mesh with the gears P and P formed on the respective sleeves, it is obvious that, with this arrangement, the operation of the handle will effect the raising and lowering of the main or auxiliary series of magazines, depending upon which shaft is operatively connected with its driving sleeve.

The lever P is shifted to its different adjusted positions by a bar P arranged for limited sliding movement in a fore-and-aft direction in a boss 0 formed in the bracket 0 The bar P is provided at its inner end with a pin p engaging in a bifurcated portion formed at the end of said lever and at its outer end with a knob P to facilitate adjustment by the operator. The different positions of the lever are indicated by the words Main and Aux, inscribed in the bar, one or the other of which will be visible through a window P formed in the boss 0 the word Main appearing when the lever is in a position to connect the shift frame of the main series of magazines with the crank handle L, and

the word Aux" when the lever is in a position to connectthe shift frame of the auxiliary series of magazines with the crank handle.

At this point, it may be stated that the crank handle L is actually formed in two parts, the inner part L thereof being pinned to the shaft and the outer part L? being movable with respect to the shaft with an intermediate friction disc L together with means for holding the parts ferent magazine into operative position.

in frictional engagement for normal operation. The arrangement of the handle is such that the outer portion thereof will move relatively to the inner portion withoutturning the shaft P in the event some obstruction exists preventing the shifting of the magazines. The crank handle itself does not form part of the present invention and if further details of its construction are desired, reference may be had to the Rogers Patent No. 1,109,872.

Since one of the sleeves P or P must idle upon its shaft while the other is active during the raising and lowering of the shift frame with which it is associated, and since the sleeves may be adjusted only when the keyways therein are in ,alinement with their respective keys, it is essential that both shafts have a normal position which will be the same regardless of which of its associated magazines happens to be in operative position, and this is one reason (although not the only one) why the locking devices are provided for maintaining the relation between those parts of the operating connections carried by the supporting frame associated with the auxiliary series of magazines and the parts carried by the main frame. Also, in order that the operator may be apprised of the position of the parts, wherein the shifting of the gears to select one or the other series of magazines may be effected, the crank handle itself has a normal position to correspond. In order to prevent inadvertent movement of the shift frames, the crank handle is locked in its normal position and must be manually released by, the operator when it is desired to move the shift frames to bring a dif- Since there are a number of conditions that may exist in the machine which, if not corrected, might result in breakage of the parts should shifting of the magazines be attempted, the mechanism for.

releasing the handle locking device is coupled with the devices for indicating the presence of such conditions, and if any do exist, the devices for releasing the locking mechanism will not function until such conditions have been corrected by the operator,

The handle locking device just alluded to (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) includes a small gear R pinned to the handle shaft P just to the front of the intermediate gear P of the gear shift mechanism and which meshes with a larger gear R arranged immediately thereabove and rotatably mounted on a pin R? fixed in the bracket 0 at the front of the machine. The larger gear R is formed at the rear with a circular boss R provided at one point in its periphery with a recess R arranged to receive a pin R slidably mounted in a boss R formed in bracket carried by the main frame. As the handle L must be turned several times in order to shift from one magazine to a magazine next adjacent, the ratio between the gears R and R is such that the larger gear will make one rotation during such shifting operation, andwhen any magazine is in operative position, the recess R will be located in registry with the pin R5, at which time the latter will project into the recess under the influence of a spring R encircling the pin and confined within the boss which houses it.

When it is desired to release the handle to allow shifting from one magazine to another, the pin R is withdrawn by pressing down on an arm R fixed at one end of a short cross shaft R provided at its opposite end with an arm R pivotally connected to the pin. Overiying the arm R is a vertical rod R connected to a fixed part of the main frame between the two series of magazines by a pair of pin and slot connections R (which allow the rod a limited movement in a vertical direction), and immediately overlying the rod R is an arm S of a bell crank lever S fixed toa long rock shaft S extending the full width of the machine and journalled at its opposite ends and also at its center in fixed portions thereof. When the shaft S is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at the machine from the right, through the medium of a hand lever S extending to the front of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 2) and fixed to said shaft S the bell crank lever will depress the rod R against the pull of a spring R fastened to said rod and anchored in the machine frame, thereby effecting the withdrawal of the pin R and releasing the handle L for the operation of the parts.

When the operator releases the hand lever S the rock shaft S is turned back to its normal position by the rod R under the influence of the spring R thereby releasing the locking pin R and allowing it to seat in the recess R when the gear with which it is associated again brings said recess into registry with the pin, which action, as previously stated, will occur when the adjacent magazine has been brought into operative position. In this connection it might be well to state that the arm S of the bell crank lever S that actuates the vertical bar R is provided with a screw .5 that reacts against the bar at the top and which is merely for the purpose of properly adjusting the parts.

Should any matrices be protruding from the lower end of the magazine about to be shifted from operative position and which might cause damage to the parts, the rock shaft S will not function to withdraw the locking pin R since the usual feeler bar T located at the assembler entrance is likewise operated from said rock shaft. The feeler bar T in its normal position is located above the operative magazine at the lower end thereof and is carried at the top of a pair of vertically movable bars T located one at each side of the magazine and connected to a fixed portion of the machine by pin and slot connections T The bars T at their lower ends, are pivotally connected to arms T pinned to the rock shaft S the arrangement being such that as said shaft is rocked in the manner previously described, the feeler bar T will be drawn across the mouth of the magazine and, in the event of matrices protruding therefrom, will, in striking against them, prevent further rocking of the shaft. In such cases, the locking pin R will not be actuated to release the handle L until after the operator has removed the offending matrices.

The usual feeler plate (not shown) associated with the distributing mechanism is likewise operated from the rock shaft S through the medium of a long bar S (see Fig. 1) pivotally connected at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank lever S pivotally mounted in the main frame of the machine and which has a second arm connected to the bell crank lever S fixed on the rock shaft through a fore-and-aft link S Through the arrangement just described, the feeler plate will be operated when the operator actuates the rock shaft S and, in the event there are any matrices left in the distributor, the rock shaft again will be arrested, thus preventing the withdrawal of the locking pin R until the obstruction is removed.

As it is also possible for the escapement levers F (see Fig. 5) to stick in their advanced positions and which too might result in damage to the parts when the magazines are raised or lowered, means are provided for insuring that all of them are in their retracted positions before the shift frame is moved. These means include a half round bar F (Figs. 1 and 5) journalled at its opposite ends in the escapement lever frame and in front of the escapement levers F Normally the cut-away portion of the bar is opposite the levers, thus leaving them free to function in the usual way but, when the feeler bar supporting bars T are operated by the rock shaft S in the manner previously described, they will, through the medium of a pair of arms F fixed at one end to the half round shaft and connected at the other end to said bars, turn the half round bar to bring the solid portion thereof opposite the escapement levers and thus effect the retraction of any escapement levers that happen to be stuck in their forward positions. The bar F of course, is returned to its normal position along with the rock shaft S It is possible of course, that matrices may stick between the conductor channel E and the magazine in alinement therewith and thus interfere with the movement of the shift frame should an attempt be made to change from one magazine to another. If the magazines were being raised, no damage would result since the handle L would merely slip with respect to the shaft P by virtue of the frictional connection therebetween as previously described. If the magazines were being lowered however, the cams K or K as the case might be, would draw away from their respective followers K or K depriving the shift frames of their means of support and, because of the weight of the shift frames and the magazines carried thereby, damage to the parts might result.

As a precautionary measure, in the event the shift frames are deprived of the support of the cams for this or any other reason, supplementary supporting means are provided in the form of a pair of banking members V and V (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) with which each of the shift frames is equipped and which are arranged one above the other in brackets V fixed on the shift frame tie rods and C and screwed also to the bottom of the lowermost base frames (Figs. 1 and 2). The upper banking members V are fixed in recesses formed in the front edges of the brackets V whereas the lower banking members V are pivotally mounted adjacent their upper ends likewise in said recesses. When the lowermost magazines are in operative position, the lower banking members V will overlie dogs V pivotally mounted one on each of the supporting frames and held in normal position in the path of the banking members V and V by springs V fastened at one end to an offset portion '0 of the dogs and anchored at their other ends in the supporting frames (see Fig. 6); whereas when the intermediate magazines are in operative position, the upper banking members V will overlie the dogs,

the lower banking members V being cut away at an angle (see Fig. 1) to permit the dogs to engage beneath said upper banking members. When the uppermost magazines are in operative position, nosupplementary support is needed, since under such circumstances the shift frame will bank directly on the supporting frame, and for this condition too, the dogs V will merely bank against the lateral faces of the upper banking members V.

Assuming now that it is desired to raise one of the shift frames, the arm S is depressed for the reason previously described and, as the cross shaft S is rocked, a pair of arms V (one being provided for each dog V fixed to the cross shaft, will engage the offset portions 1) of the respective dogs and rock them clear of the banking members. If the uppermost magazine in the bank being shifted is in operative position,

the dog V will, as the arm S is released, merely return and bank against the lateral face of the upper banking member V until the intermediate magazine arrives in operative position, whereupon the dog V will be actuated into its normal position beneath the banking member V under the influence of its associated spring V If it is desired now to continue raising the shift frame to bring the lowermost magazine into operative position, the arm S is depressed as before, but here, due to the fact that the lowermost banking member V is cut away, as previously described, it may be that the dog, upon the release of the arm S will again spring into position in front of said banking member, but this will not interfere with the raising of the shift frame, for, as previously described, the banking member V is pivotally mounted and will yield as the shift frame is raised against pressure exerted on it by a spring pressed detent 12 arranged in the bracket V near the lower end thereof and which presses against the rear face of said banking member (see Fig. 6). When the lowermost magazine arrives in operative position, the banking member V will have cleared the dog and will again have assumed its normal position wherein it overlies the dog due to the action of the spring pressed detent just alluded to.

Assuming now that it is desired to lower the shift frame, the shaft S is rocked as before, with the result that the dogs will be moved out from beneath the banking members and the handle L turned to lower the shift frame with which it is connected. Should some obstruction be present however, that prevents the lowering of the shift frame, the latter will be arrested before it has moved very far and, if this condition is not observed by the operator and he continues to turn the handle, the cams K or K as the case may be, will draw away from the associated cam followers, but as the arm S is released (which, as previously stated, will occur immediately after the shift frame has started to move), the dog V will spring back into position beneath the banking member V or V depending upon whether the intermediate or the lowermost magazine was in operative position and thereby give support to the shift frame until the obstructing condition has been remedied, it being understood that there is sufiicient clearance between the dogs V and the banking members V and V depending upon which magazine is in operative position, to permit the dogs to spring back into place, even though the shift frame has been lowered slightly, i. e., if the shift frame sticks at all, such sticking will occur near the beginning of the downward movement, and the clearance provided is somewhat greater than the distance through which the shift frame will move before being arrested.

It may be noted here that the arms V which cooperate with the dogs V are provided each with an adjustable banking screw 0 serving merely as a means for securing proper adjust: ment of the parts. It may also be stated that the normal positions of the dogs V are determined by banking surfaces '0 located on the respective supporting frames (see Fig. 6) and that the dogs are constrained to move in their proper planes by strap members 11 fixed on the respective supporting frames and which overlie the dogs.

The members V, V and the dog V also serve to prevent lowering of the main magazine shift frame either deliberately or accidentally when the supporting frame D is swung upwardly tothe magazine removing position, the dog V at such times being out of the control of the handle S and this perhaps is the primary purpose of the members V and V as far as the main series of magazines is concerned. Asfar as the auxiliary magazines are concerned, it will be recalled that under similar conditions the shift frame that supports them is locked against movement when the supporting frame is in the magazine removal position by the pin n, all as previously described.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many Variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, a supporting frame wherein the shift frame is mounted and movable to locate a selected magazine clear of the assembler devices to facilitate the removal thereof, means mounted in the supporting frame for moving the shift frame to locate one or another of the magazines in operative position, and mechanism mounted in a fixed part of the machine for operating said means.

2. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, .a supporting frame wherein the shift frame is mounted and movable to locate a selected magazine clear of the assembler devices to facilitate the removal thereof, means mounted in the supporting frame for moving the shift frame ot locate one or another of the magazines in operative position, and mechanism including a train of connections leading to the front of the machine for operating said means.

3. A combination according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the train of connections therein referred to is maintained unbroken throughout the movement of the supporting frame.

a. A combination according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the, train of connections therein referred to are mounted partly in the sup porting frame and partly in a fixed part of the machine and include also a telescoping connection between the parts for maintaining the train unbroken throughout the movement of the supporting frame.

5. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed main magazines and a plurality, of superposed auxiliary magazines, shift frames wherein the magazines are removably mounted, supporting frames wherein the shift frames are mounted and movable to locate selected magazines clear of the assembler devices to facilitate the removal thereof, means mounted in the supporting frames for moving the respective shift frames to locate one or another of the magazines therein in operative position, mechanism including a train of connections associated with each group of magazines and leading to the front of the machine for operating said means, the train of connections associated with the group of auxiliary magazines being broken during the movement of the corresponding supporting frame to effect the removal of a magazine and again made when the supporting frame is returned to normal position, and' means for maintaining the same relation between the parts of such connections before and after breaking.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the means for maintaining the same relation between the parts of the, connections before and after breaking act automatically as the supporting frame is moved from and to normal position, respectively.

'7 A combination according to claim 5, wherein the train of connections associated with the group of auxiliary magazines includes a gear mounted in the corresponding supporting frame and another gear mounted in a fixed part of the machine, said gears normally meshing with each other and arranged to be demeshed when the supporting frame is moved out of normal position, and means for locking the gears against rotation when demeshed.

8. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a series of main magazines and a series of auxiliary magazines, an individual shift frame for each series of magazines wherein the magazines are removably mounted, supporting frames for the respective shift frames movable to locate a selected magazine clear of the assembler devices to facilitate the removal thereof, individual connections for effecting the raising and lowering of the shift frames, and common operating means for said connections.

9. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a series of main magazines and a series of auxiliary magazines, an individual shift frame for each series of magazines wherein the magazines are removably mounted, supporting frames for the respective shift frames movable to locate a selected magazine clear of the assembler devices to facilitate the removal thereof, individual connections for effecting the raising and lowering of the shift frames, an operating device, and means for selectively associating the operating device with one or the other of said individual connections.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the means for selectively associating the operating device with one or the other of said individual connections includes a gear shift mechanism.

11. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, devices including cam means arranged to cooperate with rollers on the shift frame for raising and. lowering the latter to bring a selected magazine into operative position, and means controlled from the front of the machine for operating the cam means.

12. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, means including an operating handle located at the front of the machine for raising and lowering the shift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position, and means acting automatically to lock the handle against movement when the selected magazine is brought into operative position.

13. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, means including an operating handle located at the front of the machine for raising and lowering the shift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position, means acting automatically to lock the handle against movement when the selected magazine is brought into operative position, and manual means for releasing the handle when it is desired to shift the frame to bring a different selected magazine into operative position.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the means for releasing the handle also operates other devices for determining the freedom of the shift frame to move in bringing a different selected magazine into operative position.

15. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines equipped each with escapement devices, a shift frame wherein the magazines are removably mounted, means for moving the shift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position, a bank of escapement levers mounted in a relatively fixed portion of the machine and normally standing out of the path of movement of the magazines, said levers being adapted when actuated to move across said path tocooperate with the escapement devices-of the magazine in operative position, and means for insuring that the escapement levers are returned to their normal positions out of the path of movement of the magazines before the shift frame is moved to bring a different selected magazine into operative position.

16. A combination according to claim 13, wherein each magazine is equipped with escapement devices to effect the release of the matrices therefrom, a bank of escapement levers mounted in a relatively fixed portion of the machine and normally standing out of the path of movement of the magazines, said levers being adapted when actuated to move across said path to cooperate with the escapement devices of the magazine in operative position, mechanism acting positively to insure that the escapement levers are in their normal positions out of the path of movement of the magazines before the shift frame is moved to bring a different selected magazine into operative position, and common devices for actuating said mechanism and the operating handle release means.

17. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted, means for raising and lowering the shift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position and for supporting the shift frame in such position, and safety devices operable to give the shift frame supplemental support in the event said supporting means are accidentally withdrawn.

18. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted, a relatively fixed supporting frame wherein the shift frame is mounted, mechanism including cam means mounted in the supporting frame and cam follower means mounted in the shift frame, said mechanism being operable to bring a selected magazine into operative position and to support the shift frame in its different positions, and devices including means mounted on the supporting frame, and other means mounted on the shift frame adapted to cooperate and support the shift frame in the event the support of the cam means is accidentally withdrawn.

19. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of superposed magazines, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted, a relatively fixed supporting frame wherein the shift frame is mounted, mechanism for raising and lowering the shift frame including cam means mounted in the supporting frame and cam follower means mounted in the shift frame, means located at the front of the machine for operating the cam means and normally locked against operation, a dog mounted on the supporting frame and adapted when in active position to cooperate with banking means on the shift frame to support the shift frame in the event the support of the cam means is withdrawn, manually operable devices acting conjoint 1y to move the dog to inactive position and to unlock the cam operating means whereby the shift frame can be moved to bring a selected magazine into operative position, and means for returning the dog to active position when said devices are released.

HAROLD A. BURT. 

